Rep. Jim Jordan is demanding information related to the fatal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) raid on the home of airport executive Brian Malinowski.
Jordan, chairman of the Judiciary Committee, said in a letter that Malinowski’s death, along with recent ATF rulemaking, “raises serious questions about the agency’s military use.”
On March 19, ATF showed up at Malinowski’s home with 10 vehicles to execute a search warrant when they believed he was illegally selling firearms.
Bryan Malinowski, 53, who ran Bill and Hillary Clinton Airport, died two days after the confrontation with ATF agents at his home in west Little Rock.
The search warrant revealed that Malinowski was suspected of selling more than 150 firearms between May 2021 and February of this year.
Jordan requested a copy of the warrant, all recordings of its execution, and all communications related to ATF’s lack of body camera footage of the incident prior to May 6.
Ring camera image of Malinowski’s home the night of the raid
Bud Cummins, an attorney for Malinowski’s estate, posted several clips from the Chenal Valley neighborhood the night of the raid, which the attorney said took place while his client and his wife Maer were sleeping, adding that it’s not clear the officers properly identified themselves. .
Jordan’s letter noted that officers serving the warrant were not wearing body cameras, a violation of Justice Department policy.
Both videos show ATF agents cocking their rifles dressed in full tactical gear outside Malinowski’s home.
One agent was injured during the shooting and, according to the ATF, Malinowski was the one who initially opened fire on the agents.
Cummins stated that there is no evidence to suggest that the officers knocked on the door and announced their presence before the shots were fired and that Malinowski shot at the officers standing at his feet, while they returned fire, shooting him in the head.
Jordan, chairman of the Judiciary Committee, said in a letter that Malinowski’s death, along with recent ATF rulemaking, “raises serious questions about the militarization of the agency.”
ATF rules require agents to knock and announce their presence before entering a home with a warrant, except when the agent ‘has reasonable grounds to believe at the time the warrant is requested that knocking and announcing the The officer’s presence would create an imminent threat of physical violence to the officer and/or another person.’
The raid came at the same time the ATF instituted a new rule to close a loophole and require dealers to conduct background checks on buyers at gun shows and other locations outside of brick-and-mortar stores. Such dealers would have to obtain a license and would be subject to up to five years and a fine of up to $250,000 if they fail to comply, sell guns without a license or fail to conduct background checks in such circumstances.
Bryan Malinowski died Thursday after ATF agents shot him at his home in west Little Rock on Tuesday.
Malinowski is seen here on the right with Pete Buttigieg, the Secretary of Transportation, during a visit to Clinton National Airport last March.
Malinowski joined Clinton National in 2008 as director of properties, planning and development before being promoted to deputy director in 2009.
Malinowski was suspected of selling more than 150 firearms between May 2021 and February of this year, six of which were later used in crimes and one of which ended up in the hands of a 15-year-old gang member in California.
“Even if the allegations in the affidavit are true, they do not begin to justify what happened,” his family said in the statement after the shooting.
“In the worst-case scenario, gun owner and enthusiast Bryan Malinowski was accused of making private sales of firearms to a person who may not have had the legal right to purchase them.”
The investigation began in November 2023, when an informant notified Canadian authorities about the illegal entry of weapons into circulation.
Malinowski allegedly purchased the weapons legally online, stating that they were for personal use and acknowledging that the “repetitive purchase of firearms” for subsequent sale is illegal without a license.
But he was seen selling them at gun shows without asking for any identification or documentation, and he told an undercover agent that none were needed for private sales.
The ATF said someone inside Malinowski’s home opened fire when they arrived Tuesday and that in the ensuing gunfight, Malinowski allegedly suffered a gunshot wound to the head.
